Can Red Light Cameras Reduce Traffic Fatalities?

By
Bernstein & Poisson
|February 21, 2019

Over 300 Nevada residents were killed by speeding drivers in 2017; sadly,
168 of these deaths took place at busy intersections. To combat this disheartening
reality, the Nevada Department of Public Safety is pushing for a bill
that would legalize the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras.

If the bill is passed, we may be seeing the following traffic cameras at
our intersections:

Red light cameras

Speed cameras

School zone cameras

The current law states that a law enforcement officer can only use a camera
to ticket a speeding driver if the device is handheld or installed in
their vehicle. If the new bill is ratified, cameras will be mounted to
traffic lights in order to photograph the license plates of speeding (or
otherwise negligent) drivers. The operator of the vehicle will receive
a citation in the mail.

However, jurisdictions are treating these traffic cameras as a “last
resort” option. Red light cameras, which are already legal in 24
states, have a complicated history marked by controversial successes and
resounding failures. In fact, many cities across the country have enthusiastically
adopted these cameras only to vote them out a short time later. Not only
are red light cameras incredibly costly to maintain (just seven intersections
can cost taxpayers over $200,000 in a fiscal year), they also increase
the total number of intersection accidents, including rear-end collisions.

But can they reduce fatalities?

The Big Question

The National Transportation Safety Board recommended that Nevada utilize
automated traffic enforcement cameras to decrease the annual number of
traffic-related deaths across the state. According to Andrew Bennett,
a Department of Public Safety Spokesperson, “An Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety study comparing cities with red light cameras to those
without found the devices reduced the fatal red-light running crash rate
by 21% and the rate of all types of
fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 14%. Over 400 U.S. communities use red
light cameras, and over 130 communities in the U.S. use cameras to enforce
speed laws. Similar results should be expected in Las Vegas if this program
is implemented.

Despite these incredible statistics, members of the Senate committee have
voiced the following concerns:

Drivers could be double penalized if a person is ticketed by an officer
and a red light camera.

The registered owner of a vehicle could be ticketed even if they weren’t
the driver.

The fine for an infraction is left at the discretion at each jurisdiction.

As previously stated, the greatest concern lawmakers have is regarding
the safety of red light cameras. Automated traffic enforcement cameras
tend to make drivers anxious and for understandable reasons. After all,
red light cameras can’t account for human errors or unavoidable
circumstances. For example, if a car gets stuck in an intersection because
another vehicle was involved in an accident or broke down, that car driver
will receive a ticket. This anxiety causes drivers to slam on their brakes
at intersections just to avoid getting a ticket in the mail. In some cities,
this has led to a 40-50% increase in rear-end collisions and personal
injury claims.

Injured by a Negligent Drivers? Contact Bernstein & Poisson Today

It’s difficult to say how Nevada residents will react to automated
traffic enforcement cameras. However, if you’re ever
injured by a negligent driver at an intersection, for whatever reason, contact the Las Vegas attorneys
at Bernstein & Poisson today. Our legal team has over 60 years of
collective experience and a comprehensive understanding of fluctuating
state traffic laws. We can help you maximize your claim and secure compensation
that facilitates your recovery process.

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